Read through the installation documentation for your platform before you begin a new installation or upgrade. You need to plan parts of the installation and configure the operating system before installing Adaptive Server. It is also helpful to consult with the operating system administrator to discuss operating system requirements for Adaptive Server. These requirements can include the configuration of memory, raw devices, asynchronous I/O, and other features, depending on the platform you use. Many of these tasks must be completed before you have begun the installation.
If you are upgrading a server, back up all data (including the master database, user databases, triggers, and system procedures) offline before you begin. After upgrading, immediately create a separate, full backup of your data, especially if there are incompatibilities between older dump files and the newer versions.